Category Archives: 1950’s

Reluctant Sale of Baldrick (Ngaku) the Steam Boat

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Reluctant Sale of Baldrick (Ngaku) the Steam Boat

Anyone need a nice little 16′ Vos clinker (has original builders plate) with divine provenance but a little prostituted by a steam engine and boiler. Built in Auckland in 1953 from Heart Kauri & Jara decks & pohutukawa stem, plus Mangaeo ribs.
CYA member & ww stalwart Russell Ward has the original Stuart Turner 8hp engine which he would pass on in part exchange for Baldrick’s steam plant.
Her current owner Gary Langstone bought her from Don Penn in Rotoiti and intended to use it.. However bad health has forced a sale.
Baldrick is in good going condition, on a trailer, stored in a shed & can be inspected at any time.  Trailer rego is on hold but no problem to activate it.
The steam engine is by Don Hasbrook & built by Donn and others, the boiler is by McCarthy Engineering Ltd & only 15years old.
Gary paid $8000.00 for the craft and would like to recover this. For enquires phone Gary or come and see it . Phone  09 2946614 or email glangstone@xtra.co.nz
For more photos & history http://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz/40-59.htm

ps fingers crossed when she sells, her new owner reverts to her old name – Ngaku  🙂

Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #10 – Kiariki Xmas 1950/60

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Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #10 – Kiariki Xmas  1950/60

Another drawing from Robert Brooke done by his father, Jack Brooke, again ww thanks Robert for making them available to ww followers. Jack produced a hand drawing on each cruise. Todays post is the 10th featured – again the detail is amazing.

The above drawing records the travels of Kiariki during the Xmas 1959/60 cruise to Kawau Island > Gt Barrier Island >back to  Kawau > Mahurangi.

Crew: John Brooke, Elsie Brooke, Judith Brooke, Robert Brooke, Gail Hall & Ross Duder. On the Kawau leg – Max & Bobby Walker. On the Mahurangi leg – Nick & Tim Gurr.

MANANA III

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MANANA III
photos & details ex Harold Kidd

The  3 photos above by taken by Tudor Collins in the Bay of Islands c.1955 of the Miami-registered game fisher Maňana III. The images were bought at a flea-market by Sharon Knight who has made them available via Harold for all of ww followers to relish.
Harold had no idea that this boat ever came out here to fish, but here is the proof. She appears to have been built by Dittmore as the 48 footer Irish Lady and renamed Manaňa III when bought by Capt J. C. Lusk USN (retd) of Annapolis in 1948.
Sadly she was wrecked in Alaska some years ago.

Kamalii – Sailing Sunday

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Kamalii – Sailing Sunday

Mooching around Waiheke Island over Labour Weekend 2014, I went for an early morning row & spotted Kamalii anchored in Onetangi. Quite a sight in the early morning (sun rise) light. Anyone able to supply some more info on this rather nice yacht?

Update: Just discovered a very current, up-to-date blog on Kamalii – all you want to know here.

http://svkamalii.blogspot.co.nz/p/about-kamalii.html

Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #8 – Kiariki May 1959

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Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #8 – Kiariki May 1959

I have just received another batch of drawing from Robert Brooke of these remarkable cruise drawings done by his father, Jack Brooke, again ww thanks Robert for making them available to ww followers. Jack produced a hand drawing on each cruise. Todays post is the 8th featured – enjoy.

The above drawing records the travels of Kiariki during a May 1959 cruise to Kawau Island & onto Gt Barrier Island.

Crew: John Brooke, Don Brooke, Bill Mitch, John Chapple, Peter Walker, Rob Wallace. Must have been a boys cruise.

Matahui

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MATAHUI

Lindsay Aitcheson, the new owner of the motor-sailor Matahui would like some input from the collective brains of ww followers.

It is Lindsay’s understanding that Matahui was designed by Athol Burns & launched into the Waiwartu  Stream in Wellington in 1955 (refer above photo ex Turnbull Library). Lindsay understands she was built as a fishing boat to long-line in Cook Strait. The builder is unknown but ‘could’ be Frank Dellabarca as he built several Athol Burns designed fishing boats e.g. MV Cristina (featured previously on ww).

Anyone able to shed some light on Matahui & her past??

06/11/14 -Updated with more photos from Lindsay Aitcheson (click to enlarge)

14/11/2014 Two photos of Matahui below ex Pam Cundy when owned by Tim Hall , he used her as a commercial fishing boat. He sold her to build another commercial fishing boat, ‘Skip Jack’ a 38′ Aztec. These days Skip Jack operates as a charter boat out of Gulf Harbour.

Reelemin II

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REELEMIN (II)   #1Fairlie Launch in a series of 4
photos & details ex Ken Ricketts. Edited by Alan H

Norm Fairlie was a lifelong, dedicated & very enthusiastic game fisherman, having fished extensively, mostly at Mayor Island & started his boating life with a couple of small outboard powered runabouts in the later 1940s & early 50s.

His first foray in to cruising type boats, was Reelemin (II). She was built by Don Norton in Westmere for Norm F., c.1954-55.

She is 26 feet long & was originally powered by a largish petrol engine, which Norm does not recall the details of. She cruised at around 12-14 knots.Norma owned her until  approx 1961 when he sold her & replaced her with the new & larger 38 foot Challenger, in approx 1962, which he commissioned McGeady to build for him & which will be the subject of a later post. This was followed later still by the even bigger 45 foot (llater extended to 52 feet) Commander One, in approx 1968-69  which was built for him by Alan Williams, also to be the subject of a later post.

Fairlie also had McGeady build him a purpose built 30 footer called Tempest, which was built for him in early 1964, specially for the World Game Fishing Contest (March 1964), on which he won the Tuna section, of that contest.

He had retained Challenger & owned both boats at the same time. Challenger came second in the game fishing section, but unfortunately, Fairlie has no pics of Tempest & he sold her shortly after the contest concluded & does not recall engine details of this boat.

Norm is now long retired, at 91 & when Ken spoke to him, sounded very fit & active for his age & living at the Gold Coast.

He was a very successful Auckland businessman & father of one of NZ’s world famous international tennis stars of the 1960s-70s era, Brian Fairlie.

Ken would like to acknowledge the help, input & permission of Norm to make this & the future  posts on his other  boats possible.

The pic below of Gay  Dawn was taken by Norm from Reelemin at Opua Christmas 1960. His in-laws are standing on the stern & a young Brian, outside the portside bridegdeck window.

Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #5 – Matanui 1955

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Matanui 1955

Jack Brooke Cruise Collection – Matanui 1955

waitematawoodys would again like to thank Robert Brooke for making the remarkable cruise drawings done by his father, Jack Brooke, available to ww followers. Jack produced a hand drawing on each cruise. Today’s post is the fifth of several – enjoy.

The above drawing records the travels of Matanui during a ‘boys’ weekend fishing trip in 1955. They departed early Friday evening & returned on Monday morning. A lot of ground was covered with the Needles being the targeted location to the north & Elephant Cove to the east. From the sea state drawing & comments, it must have been a little rough between Elephant Cove & Shag Rock.

The crew was made up of Jack Brooke, Joe Kissin, John Ellis & Scott Wilson. Interestingly the crew did the same trip 11 years later – I will post that drawing next week.

Toroa

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TOROA
According to the ‘sales pitch’ given to Toroa’s new owner, Brian Simpson, she was built by Chas Bailey & Sons in the 1950’s. Approx. 26′ long & built of kauri.
Toroa spent it’s life in Auckland until Brian moved it to Taupo 5 months ago.
Any information about it’s history would be much appreciated.

Photo below ex Derek Molander – Caption – Watch officer Ces Todd and a party of cadets in 1967.  The Coast Guard cutter Toroa lies at anchor behind them.

Sailing Sunday – Tango

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TANGO

photos taken at the 2014 Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition

Tango was Jim Young’s first keel boat – designed / built in 1954/1955 & launched in 1956. As Doug Reid commented at the 2014 Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition – Tango was 20 years ahead to the pack, with her world first, on a cruising keel boat, ‘spade’ rudder & short keel. Prior to this keelers had their rudders faired into their long keels.

Constructed of heart kauri planking  – single skin, caulked on spotted gum ribs. Her specs are: LOA – 9.45m LOW – 8.06m Beam – 1.83m Disp – 3500kg.

Photo updates from Graeme Salter (owner)
The out-of-water photo really shows off her lovely lines, which most people do not get to see, also check out the keel rudder set up.
The second photo was at the Mercury Islands February last year (2013)